Babers asks, What is the “Probable Cost” for the Dismissal of charges vs Kerwin, Peter Lim
Rep.
Robert Ace S. Barbers
2nd
District, Surigao del Norte
Chairman,
Committee on Dangerous Drugs
BARBERS
ASKS, WHAT IS THE “PROBABLE COST” FOR THE
DISMISSAL OF CHARGES VS KERWIN, PETER LIM
Robert Ace Barbers, Chairman of the
House of Representatives Committee on Dangerous Drugs today condemned the
initial exoneration by the DOJ Panel of Prosecutors of confessed drug
personality Kerwin Espinosa and alleged druglords Peter Go Lim, Peter Co, and
other personalities accused of violating the Dangerous Drugs Act.
Barbers pointed out that Kerwin
Espinosa has openly and voluntarily admitted under oath before the Senate
investigation in August 2017, that he is indeed involved in illegal drug
trafficking in Regions 7 and 8.
Espinosa further admitted that Peter
Go Lim is one of his suppliers of illegal drugs.
The PNP earlier filed the case
against the accused using the affidavit of Marcelo Adorco, Espinosa’s driver
bodyguard as the basis for filing the case.
The
DOJ panel however dismissed the cases stating that Adorco’s testimony alone was
insufficient, being uncorroborated by another witness.
“How can the DOJ panel say that the testimony
of the driver bodyguard of Espinosa is uncorroborated when Espinosa himself
validated such testimony in his own admission before the Senate investigation”,
Barbers asked.
"Is
the DOJ panel blind, deaf or dumb? Did
they not see not hear the testimony and admission that Kerwin Espinosa made
before the Senate investigation? They
could have taken notice of that admission and considered it part of the
evidence before deciding the case against Espinosa and Lim”, Barbers said.
“All
that the DOJ Panel is tasked to find out is the presence of probable cause, not
sufficiency of evidence. Probable cause
in lay man’s terms is 'something that may lead a reasonable man to believe that
indeed a crime is probably committed'. But instead of doing just that, the
panel arrogated upon itself the functions of the court, that is evaluating the
sufficiency of evidence”, Barbers said.
“Instead of probable cause, the
panel decision raised a mysterious million dollar question, what is the
probable cost of the dismissal? ”, Barbers added.
Barbers likewise said he observed
that lately, there seems to be a trend by the DOJ in dismissing drug cases due
to alleged insufficiency of evidence, which he finds very alarming, just like
in the case of former Customs Commissioner Faeldon, the liability of whom was
so glaring yet was cleared by the DOJ.
“The ultimate casualty here is the
President’s war on drugs. It is a big
blow to the credibility of the President’s list of narco personalities. If the DOJ wants to cast a shadow of doubt on
the President’s list, then it is succeeding, to the delight of the narco
personalities mentioned therein,” Barbers said.
Congressman
LITO ATIENZA
BUHAY
Party-list
March
14, 2018
Senior Deputy Minority Leader and
BUHAY Party-list Representative Lito Atienza yesterday roundly criticized the
proposed law House Bill 7303 or An Act Instituting Absolute Divorce and
Dissolution of Marriage in the Philippines.
This proposed law is definitely
unconstitutional! It is expressly stated
in Article XV on The Family, Section 2,
that ‘Marriage, as an inviolable social institution, is the foundation of the family and shall be
protected by the State.’
The
Constitution is very clear and there is no room for misinterpretation. So how
can Congressman Edcel Lagman interpret their proposed law as constitutional?
Every definition that can be found
on the word inviolable states that it is unassailable, cannot be broken, cannot
be interchanged, and anything inviolable is considered hallowed, holy, sacred,
sacrosanct and untouchable.
Ano ba ang definition nila ng
inviolability? This is precisely why I did not interpellate regarding the other
provisions and sections of the proposed law – because the whole law is
unconstitutional and Congress should not be tackling this at all! This cannot
be considered as part of the law of the land.
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